In the increasingly competitive mid-range tablet space, Xiaomi has consistently positioned itself as a brand that delivers premium features at budget-friendly prices. The Xiaomi Pad 7, a direct successor to the well-received Pad 6, arrives in 2025 with a polished metal design, upgraded internals, and software tuned for productivity and entertainment. It’s aimed at students, casual users, and even light professionals who need a capable Android tablet without paying flagship prices.
However, with rivals like the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+, Lenovo Tab P12, and Apple’s still-relevant iPad 9th and 10th Gen, the market has never been tougher. Each brand offers unique strengths, but Xiaomi’s promise lies in delivering a balanced all-rounder. So, does the Pad 7 strike the right chord in terms of value, performance, and daily usability? After hands-on testing, here’s our full breakdown of what makes the Xiaomi Pad 7 one of the most compelling budget tablets of the year.
Xiaomi Pad 7 – design & build quality
At first glance, the Xiaomi Pad 7 impresses with a premium aesthetic that belies its affordable price tag. Its slim aluminum unibody construction gives it the durability and sleek finish often reserved for higher end tablets. Weighing approximately 480 grams and measuring 6.8mm thin, it strikes a near-perfect balance between portability and sturdiness. Whether you’re holding it upright to read or propping it up for streaming, the device feels refined and comfortable in hand.
Xiaomi continues with its signature flat-edge design, but with subtle refinements that enhance usability. The tablet feels especially ergonomic in landscape mode, which is ideal for watching videos, attending video calls, or using the keyboard accessory. The matte finish on the back not only adds to its elegant appearance but also helps with grip and smudge resistance. Even during extended use, the Pad 7 remains easy to handle, without feeling slippery or too light.
Button and port placement are thoughtfully executed. The volume buttons and power key are located along the top-right edge for easy reach, while the USB-C port is positioned centrally at the bottom. Xiaomi includes quad stereo speakers two on each side which offer a symmetrical audio experience whether you’re holding the tablet vertically or horizontally. Their placement reinforces the Pad 7’s media-first design, signaling its intent as a true entertainment companion.
Display Quality of Xiaomi Pad 7
The Xiaomi Pad 7 boasts an impressive 11-inch 2.8K (2880 x 1800) IPS LCD display that stands out in the budget tablet space. With a buttery-smooth 120Hz refresh rate, visuals are not only sharp but incredibly fluid ideal for everything from casual browsing to competitive gaming. The high resolution delivers crisp text and vibrant images, making reading, drawing, and watching content a visual treat. Whether you’re editing documents or streaming 4K content, the display holds up exceptionally well.
While it doesn’t use AMOLED technology, the IPS panel delivers rich colors and strong contrast that rival more expensive devices. With 550 nits of peak brightness, it’s well suited for most indoor environments and even performs decently outdoors in shaded areas. Viewing angles are wide, with minimal color distortion, which is great for sharing the screen with others. Color accuracy is solid for creative tasks like photo editing, and the addition of Dolby Vision and HDR10 support elevates the movie watching experience by enhancing dynamic range and depth.
The bezels surrounding the display are slim yet functional, giving the tablet a modern look while maintaining practicality. They’re thin enough to deliver an immersive experience but thick enough to prevent accidental screen touches while holding the device. Whether you’re reading in portrait mode or watching a show in landscape, the screen feels well-optimized for all kinds of usage. Overall, the display is a major highlight of the Xiaomi Pad 7, offering premium visuals at a fraction of the price of flagship tablets.
Cameras
Camera capabilities aren’t usually the main selling point of a tablet, and the Xiaomi Pad 7 stays true to that standard. It features a 13MP rear camera and an 8MP front-facing camera, both capable of recording in 1080p. While these specs won’t rival a modern smartphone, they’re more than sufficient for everyday use cases like scanning documents, snapping photos for notes, or participating in video calls. Xiaomi has kept the camera software simple, with basic modes like photo, video, and document scan to cover essential needs.
In well-lit conditions, the rear 13MP camera performs adequately. Images come out clear with decent color reproduction, making it suitable for casual shots or educational tasks. However, like most budget tablets, the quality dips in low light environments. Photos can appear grainy, with a noticeable loss in detail and sharpness. This isn’t unexpected for the segment, and most users likely won’t rely on the rear camera for anything beyond occasional utility use.
The front-facing 8MP camera is positioned along the longer horizontal edge of the display, which is a smart move for users who rely on the tablet for video conferencing. This placement feels natural during Zoom or Google Meet calls, especially in landscape mode. The image quality is good under proper lighting, and it supports face unlock, which is quick and generally reliable when lighting conditions are favorable. While it lacks advanced features like portrait mode or wide-angle support, it handles the basics well making it a functional camera setup for a tablet in this price range. Whether you’re attending virtual classes or joining meetings, the Pad 7’s camera system gets the job done without fuss.
Xiaomi Pad 7 – Performance & Hardware
Powering the Xiaomi Pad 7 is the capable Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 1 processor, an upgrade over the Snapdragon 870 used in the previous generation. This 4nm chip delivers faster CPU and GPU performance while being more energy efficient. Paired with 6GB or 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 128GB or 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage, the Pad 7 offers a fluid and responsive experience whether you’re a casual user or someone needing reliable performance for work and play. The storage is fast, the memory is ample, and the chipset brings flagship-level capability to a mid-range price point.
In day to day use, the Pad 7 handles tasks like a champ. You can browse the web, write documents, switch between apps, and watch YouTube videos in a floating window without a hint of lag. Multitasking is smooth and transitions are seamless, thanks to Xiaomi’s software optimizations. UI animations are quick and polished, and apps load swiftly. Even with several background processes running, the tablet doesn’t stutter, making it ideal for students, content consumers, and light productivity users.
Gaming performance is equally impressive. The integrated Adreno 735 GPU comfortably handles titles like PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact, and Call of Duty Mobile on medium to high settings. Frame rates remain consistent, and graphics look sharp and immersive. Importantly, thermal control is excellent—thanks to the aluminum chassis and effective internal heat management. Even during long sessions of intense gaming or video rendering, the tablet stays cool and doesn’t suffer from noticeable performance throttling. This makes the Xiaomi Pad 7 a reliable option not only for entertainment but also for gaming enthusiasts on a budget.
Software Experience
The Xiaomi Pad 7 runs on MIUI Pad 15, based on Android 14, customized specifically for tablets. Unlike phones, this version brings actual productivity benefits like:
- Split-screen multitasking
- Floating windows
- App dock
- Drag and drop file support
It even supports external displays and keyboard shortcuts when used with accessories. The interface is snappy and doesn’t suffer from the bloatware issues that once plagued MIUI.
A handy addition is the desktop-style taskbar that appears when multitasking, allowing quick access to recent and pinned apps. Stylus support is baked in, though the Xiaomi Smart Pen is sold separately.
The system is well-optimized for large-screen usage, offering an experience similar to Samsung’s DeX or Apple’s Stage Manager.
Audio & Media Experience
One of the standout features of the Pad 7 is its quad-speaker system, powered by Dolby Atmos. The sound is loud, crisp, and spatially immersive, making this tablet an absolute joy for watching movies or streaming music.
Highs are clear, mids are balanced, and while the bass won’t shake your desk, it’s more than adequate for the form factor.
There’s no 3.5mm headphone jack, but Bluetooth 5.3 ensures smooth connectivity with wireless headphones. It supports aptX and LDAC codecs for high-quality wireless audio playback.
Battery Life & Charging
The Xiaomi Pad 7 packs an 8,800mAh battery, and it delivers excellent real-world performance. With moderate use (video streaming, web browsing, reading, and light productivity), it easily lasts 10 to 12 hours on a single charge.
Heavier users who multitask with video calls, stylus usage, and gaming can still expect 7 to 9 hours, which is impressive for the hardware it powers.
Charging is fast, thanks to 33W wired charging, which takes the battery from 0% to 100% in about 90 minutes. There’s no wireless charging a reasonable omission at this price point.
Xiaomi’s battery optimization features, like Adaptive Battery and Sleep Standby mode, extend battery life significantly during idle hours.
Accessories & Ecosystem Integration
Xiaomi offers an optional magnetic keyboard case and Xiaomi Smart Pen 2nd Gen, which transform the Pad 7 into a lightweight productivity setup. The keyboard is responsive with decent key travel, while the stylus offers 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity, low latency, and tilt support ideal for note-taking or sketching.
Ecosystem features like Xiaomi Share let you seamlessly move files between your Xiaomi phone and tablet. There’s also clipboard syncing, call and message mirroring, and unified notifications if you’re using other Xiaomi devices.
USB-C also supports DisplayPort out, allowing you to connect the Pad 7 to an external monitor—perfect for presentations or extended productivity sessions.
Price & Value
In 2025, the Xiaomi Pad 7 is priced at:
- $299 for the 6GB/128GB model – See It On Amazon
At this price point, it competes with:
- Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+
- Lenovo Tab P12
- Apple iPad 9th Gen
Compared to these rivals, the Xiaomi Pad 7 offers better performance, a smoother display, superior speakers, and a more modern design—all while undercutting them on price. That makes it arguably the best-value Android tablet under $350.
Pros & Cons
| Pros: | Cons: |
| 1. Stunning 11″ 2.8K 120Hz display | 1. No AMOLED panel |
| 2. Excellent performance with Snapdragon 8s Gen 1 | 2. No cellular/LTE option |
| 3. Long battery life and fast charging | 3. Stylus and keyboard sold separately |
| 4. Great quad-speaker setup with Dolby Atmos |
Final Verdict
The Xiaomi Pad 7 is an impressive device that punches far above its weight class. With a sharp 120Hz display, flagship-grade processor, long-lasting battery, and excellent speakers, it offers an unbeatable value for students, casual users, and even light professionals.
Sure, it lacks an AMOLED panel and cellular support—but those are trade-offs that make sense when you consider the starting price under $300.
If you’re looking for the best budget Android tablet in 2025, the Xiaomi Pad 7 deserves to be at the very top of your shortlist. It combines performance, style, and features into one sleek package—proving once again that Xiaomi knows how to dominate the value segment.